Bierhoff summons up spirit of '96

Bierhoff summons up spirit of '96




The scorer of both Germany's goals in the 2-1 comeback victory against the Czech Republic in the EURO '96™ final Oliver Bierhoff knows what it takes to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy. And he believes the Mannschaft are blessed by a "team of winners".
'Optimistic'
Now Germany team manager, Bierhoff has witnessed Germany's progress at UEFA EURO 2008™ at close quarters, and having come up just short in recent years he is confident this time they will go all the way when they take on Spain in Vienna on Sunday. "When you consider where we began from four years ago we have achieved a great deal," said the 40-year-old, who played his last international in 2002. "At three tournaments – the [2005] FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2006 FIFA World Cup and now at UEFA EURO 2008™ – this team twice finished in third place and now they have reached the final. If we can perform as strongly as we did against Portugal, I will be very optimistic."

'No fear'
Germany beat Portugal 3-2 in the quarter-finals, a victory which was a lot more comfortable than their win by the same scoreline against Turkey, which required a last-gasp goal from Philipp Lahm to avoid an additional half-hour. Spain overwhelmed Russia 3-0 to take their place in Sunday's showpiece, yet Bierhoff insists Germany have nothing to worry about. "The Spanish have played very consistently throughout this tournament and have truly impressed so far," he conceded. "Nevertheless, I don't consider us to be going into this game as underdogs. They have a very strong team, that attempts to open things up from the back, but we have no reason to fear them."

Collective strength
Belief seems to be ingrained in the German psyche, something Bierhoff knows more than most having guided an injury-hit team to victory in the final 12 years ago. A goal down to Czech Republic, the then striker came on as a substitute and turned the game on its head, scoring to force extra time, then the golden goal winner. Yet it is Germany's collective strength he believes will see them through. "I don't want to name any individual within our squad as the winner or shooting star of this tournament because I see the whole team as winners, regardless of the result on Sunday," said Bierhoff. "But that's no reason to take our foot off the gas now. We want to continue working hard, develop further and have great successes."